Nutrition and Dietetics is the science of managing food and nutrition for promotion of health, this is relatively new profession and it is gaining importance these days since many people have started realizing that inappropriate food habit can lead to major health problems. Nutritionists or dieticians help in promotion of good health through corrective food habits, thereby improving the quality of life of people. They assist people in planning their food habits based on their work routine, sickness and age and educate and counsel them about healthy eating.

Role of Dietician and nutrition in health care:

Even though, the role of dieticians began as early as 1900, their roles are being realized only recently. Even today, some people are not aware of the role of dieticians and they think that dieticians just prescribe certain diets for people, who are looking forward to lose their weight. But, the fact is that this is just a part of their role since they act as a link between the medical team and patient and they assist medical professionals in decision making with respect to nutrition care of a patient. Normally, the role of nutritionists and dieticians include the following:

• Planning nutrition and food programmes

• Supervision of meal prepared for patients in hospitals

• Recommending dietary modifications to patients

• Educating them on diets that might help in improving their condition

• Working with medical professionals for offering multidisciplinary healthcare approach

• Informing on the severity of complications and illness of treatment, inclusive of burdens and benefits of feeding in all conceivable routes

Different specialization in nutrition and dietetics:

Dieticians and nutritionists can act as clinical dieticians, community dieticians, consulting dieticians and management dieticians. While clinical dieticians specialize in food nutritional services in private practices, outpatient clinics and hospitals, community dieticians  work in public health agencies, day care centres and fitness clubs for offering counseling to the people of food choices.  On the other hand, management dieticians specialize in clinical management and food service systems and consultant dieticians work independently setting up their own clinic.

Educational qualification:

A candidate, who wishes to begin with a career in nutrition and dietetics, can take up the following courses offered in India:

• Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics

• Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition

• Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

• Bachelor of Science in Food Technology

• Bachelor of Science in Home Science

• Master of Science in Food Science & Nutrition

Even candidates can specialize in nutrition and dietetics in their M. Sc home science course to find a rewarding career in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

Recent government job notification in nutrition & dietetics:

Recently, some of the government organizations called for applications from eligible candidates for different jobs in the field of nutrition & dietetics and here are some of them:

• Research Assistant – National Institute of Nutrition

• HOD – Institute of Hotel Management & Hotel Management

• Senior Instructor cum lecturer - Institute of Hotel Management & Hotel Management

• Assistant Instructor Cum Assistant Lecturer - Institute of Hotel Management & Hotel Management

• Lecturer-cum-Instructor - Institute of Hotel Management & Hotel Management

Government jobs in Nutrition & Dietetics:

When it comes to government jobs in nutrition & dietetics, candidates can work in government-run hospitals, health departments, college, schools and factories for planning nutritional regiment. In addition they can also find lecturer position in government-run educational institution in the nutrition & dietetics education department. In addition, they can also find job placements in research organizations that are running under the control of the Government that are engaged in research in the field of food and nutrition.